Clinton Morrison is urging Crystal Palace fans not to judge his side's promotion prospects by the club's recent poor results.

The Republic of Ireland international said he is aware of the increasing pressure being laid on the Eagles by fans after Saturday's draw with Preston North End left Palace 16 points adrift of leaders Sheffield United.

But Morrison feels the Eagles can take the pressure and is confident the club will soon rise up to the promotion reckoning and catch the clubs starting to break away.

Morrison said: "The fans are frustrated. The players are frustrated don't you worry about that. We know we want to get back to the Premiership. That is where this club is meant to be. We are disappointed. We don't want the gap at the top to get too big.

"But the fans and everyone else should judge us in December or January. See where we are then. If we are still in the same position then you can be upset. But I don't think we will be there. I think this team is good enough to go back up. When we get all our players fit and ready we'll be fine."

Morrison was forced to play in a lone striker role for the first time in his career on Saturday, due to the injuries to Andrew Johnson, Jon Macken and Dougie Freedman's lack of match practice, but the former Birmingham striker admitted Palace looked a better side when Iain Dowie reverted to a 4-4-2 formation after Freedman's 42nd minute arrival.

Morrison said: "I've never played up front on my own before in my career, so it was difficult for me to adjust to it. "They have had AJ before, he used to do it all last season. It is difficult for me to play there. I think when Dougie came on it helped me. We played 4-4-2 and played better. The midfielders pressed up and our wingers caused problems."

Morrison's equaliser was his third goal since his return to Selhurst Park and he is now the club's second top goal scorer this season, behind Andrew Johnson.

But Morrison is keen to express that there will be no serious goal scoring rivalry between the two star strikers, as they will both be focusing on getting the Eagles back in to the Premiership.

Morrison added: "I know people in the past have compared me to AJ. AJ is brilliant and has done well. But I'm not here to rival him or compete with him. I'm here to play with him.

"Obviously I want to build a partnership with him and we want to score goals and take Palace up. I don't care who is scoring goals. Obviously I like scoring goals but I don't care who is scoring goals. The main thing is to go back up."